This book presents key conceptualizations of violence as developed by Norbert Elias. The authors explain and exemplify these concepts by analyzing Elias’s late texts, comparing his views to those of Sigmund Freud, and by analyzing the work of filmmaker Michael Haneke. The authors then discuss the strengths and shortcomings of Elias’s thoughts on violence by examining various social processes such as colonization, imperialism, and the Brazilian civilizing process—in addition to the ambivalence of state violence. The final chapters suggest how these concepts can be used to explain difficulties in implementing democracy, grappling with memories of violence, and state building after democracy.

François Dépelteau is Professor of Sociology at Laurentian University, Canada. He is a specialist in sociological theory and relational sociology, and has published many books and articles in journals such as Sociological Theory and The International Review of Sociology. Tatiana Savoia Landini is Associate Professor at Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil. She is a specialist in the figurational and processual sociology of Norbert Elias and on the topic of sexual violence against children and adolescents.

“Contrary to a widespread misunderstanding of his theory of civilising processes, Norbert Elias did not believe that violence could ever disappear from human life. He had seen enough to fear that the fragile civilised veneer of modern life would crack and violence would erupt again. In this book, a group of young scholars vigorously explore whether and how his fears were justified.” (Stephen Mennell, University College Dublin, Ireland)

“At a time when both national and international relations are undergoing major processes of change, and with the use of violence providing a central tool for the resolution of conflict, this volume is indeed timely in making a major contribution to our understanding of the processes involved. It is highly recommended.” (David N. Ashton, Professor Emeritus, University of Leicester, UK)